Capo Padrone Jersey

When it comes to style, nobody rivals the Italians and when it comes to cycling, the same holds true. Where the two overlap though goes back to the days of the debonair campione, Fausto Coppi, laboring over the Alps on his Bianchi in a collared wool jersey and immaculate hair. While modern cycling is all about carbon fiber bike frames and performance fabrics, there’s no reason there can’t be some panache. The brand Capo, while based in the U.S., makes most of its cycling clothes in northern Italy, a region known for high end tailoring and cycling. Capo’s Padrone jersey draws from both of these traditions.

Make no mistake, the Padrone is not some nostalgic throwback piece. It is in fact perhaps the most modern jersey we’ve worn. With more high-tech fabrics and techniques than we care to list, suffice it to say, the jersey is ultra-lightweight, breathable and so form-fitting, you’ll want to be realistic about your size before you order one. The Padrone is a compression-type jersey that hugs the torso in all the right places while thinner mesh panels allow for extreme breathability. Arm and waist grippers are not thick and rubbery like some other jerseys but rather wide stretchy panels that stay in place without being uncomfortable. The fabric used is treated with what Capo calls Carbon E and Meryl Actisystem technologies, which make the jersey anti-microbial and highly wicking to pull sweat off your skin.

While black may not be an obvious color choice for a hot weather jersey, the Padrone is touted as UV protective and reflective of heat. With its sleek profile, minimalist graphics and subtle branding, the Padrone carries on the great Italian tradition of functional, stylish elegance. Is it worth $200? Yes it is, especially if you’re riding a $10,000 carbon fiber Pinarello Dogma.

The Briefing

Long gone are the days when the commuter bike was an old-school mountain bike with a potpourri of parts and a rear wheel that was only roughly true. A rise in people looking to build fitness, lower their carbon footprint or simply have fun while getting around has created a big market for commuter bikes. Here are some of our favorites for 2015.